IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17989, 5 February 1924, Page 3

IN THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. (SPECIAL!.! WBITTEK POil "THE PSE39.") (BY J. T. SINCLAIR.) ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS A.P.£..—The tviite mould ir. your grapes is, no doubt, mildew. It is a. fungus, encourajed by faulty ventilation, creating cold driifyhis. Damp atmcspheie is a[so responsible. The remedy is to dust with Sowers of sulphur as soon as seen. In bad attacks the grapes axe spoilt. G.W.—Shallots can bo raised from seed in spring, as for onioas, but best propagated by the cloves, or divisions of" the bulb. The cloves can bo planted in July or August. VEGETABLES. Tomatoes.—The tomato never fails to be a favourite with the small grower, the yearly outdoor crop is still continued, and often a larger number of plants are set out. The plants are ripening their fruit quickly now and should receive every encouragement. Keep all side-shoots removed both on the indoor and outdoor crop, not forgetting the leaf which sometimes appears beyond the end of the fruit bunches, and also those which sometimes come on the upper part of the old leaves. Feed the plants liberally, but remember that an application of soot, nitrate ol potash, and superphosphates of lime is more important than the more gross and merely leaf-producing nutriment supplied by farmyard manure. Watering with weak superphophates dissolved in water (a teaspoonful to a gallon) will be found an excellent stimulus to seiung fruit, and this manure is as effective as it is cheap. Lettuce.—lf this salad is wanted late in the season a sowing should be made during the next ten days. The position should be sheltered from the south as the plants will not be ready to use before cold weather is with us. Dig the ground well and add, if it can bo managed, some leaf soil; tread fairly firm and draw shadow drills one foot asunder. If the sail is dry soak well some time befclro making the drills. Sow thinly, and thin freely wfien the seedlings are large enough to be handled. Sow a black-seeded sort such as All the. Year Round.

FRUIT. Early Pears. —Dessert pears belong to two classes, first those varieties that ripen on the trees or very soon after gathering, and. secondly those which have to be stored for periods of varying lengths before they mature sufficiently for use. Amongst the first class are Jargonielle, Clopps Favourite, William's Bon 'Chretien and iieurre d Amanlis. These varieties should he gathered by the middle of this month. From the "moment when the earliest ripen until the last fruit begins to decav is onjy a short time. The fruits should he'handled with extreme care, and they should be placed on a shelf in a single layer, where every fruit can he frequently inspected. It is economical to commence eating them as soon as possible, in order that none .may be wasted. It should be said that sweet pears are just as good for stewing as the ordinary stewing pears, and it* they cannot •bo used sufficiently quickly as dessert they will be sure to *meet with appreciation if served as a compote..

BLOWERS. Layering Carnations.—There are two methods by which carnations are increased : by cuttings and by layers, the latter is the surer method. Though the process is a simple one, there are, nevertheless, many failures. These / are generally due to carelessness. It is ' not uncommon to see the layers with their tongues lying on the surface, or to see them broken.from the plants, or ' even to find that, whilst fresh compost has been provided for the layering, the tongue of the layer has been planted below such compost, and, therefore, m the ordinary soil. Only shoots near the soil can be layered in the ordinary way. Shoots that are placed high up on the stem must be brought down with the whole plant to the ground.. The first proceeding is to loosen the soil round the plant, and if it is not of a friable nature, to add ia little sand. Next choose the growths to be layered and remove all leaves, dead or hvmcr. from the base, so as to leave a naked stem, and put two inches of soil, made up ot equal parts of loam and leaf soil, with a little sharp sand added, round the parent plant. Bend the shoot to be lavered down to the soil and note the point of easy contact. Make the tongue at this point by _ cutting halt through the stem at a joint, and then drawing the knife upwards an inch or more, thus splitting or halving me stem lengthwise. Now carefully bend the shoot down to the soil, fix a peg, or stout hairpin behind the cut to hold the stem firmlv. Keep the head of the shoot as erect as possible, so as to open the cut, and while holding thus, make the comnost firm,around the incision, lb is from the inner surface of the tongue that roots develop, therefore it is essential that' the cut or tongue is kept well ooen. When the required number of growths round a plant has been layered, water thoroughly through a fine rose and keep the soil moist should a drv spell follow. Winter Flowering Begonias.—Give every possible attention to begonias of the Gloire de Lorraine type. There U still time to root cuttings for procuring a batch of plants to flower in S-inch pots. Those now established in receptacles of that size should be potted into 4J--inch pots, and those already in 4J-inch pots into others a size larger, which are the largest pots needed for plants rooted this season. Old plants, however, may be grown as specimens in 85-inch pots. Use a light soil and pot firmly. This begonia rrakes an excellent basket plant, and it is a suitable time to plant in baskets those intended for flowering next winter, bearing in mind that a medium-sized basket not overcrowded is far better than a larger receptacle containing several plants. Should red spider show dip the foliage in a weaK solution of tobacco juice, and rinse afterwards in clear water. Pansies —No favourite flowering plant deteriorates more certanily as the season advances than the pansy. -I his is especially the case if the cultivator has neglected the rule which enjoins the constant removal of spent blooms and seed pods. Even where this precaution has been taken the most vigorous plants tend to become straggly and iratidv towards the end of tiie season. Thev should, however, on no account ba p'ulled up. Now is the time to make provision for working up a new stock of plants. Cut away the eggy portions, and use them, for cuttings it tney are not too exhausted. The portion cut away will generally be found to have a bloom at the apex. Remove the bloom or bud, and trim the cutting in the usual way. The cuttings should he dibbled into a bed of sandy soil in a frame or glasscovered box "in rows, a couple of inches apart, allowing a slightly less distance between each cutting. Plant the cuttings very firmly, and he sparing with water until root action becomes vigorous. Shade -.rill have to be afforded for some time, and when roots are emitted full air and light must be given.